The Most Advanced Wind Tunnel in the World Honda's HALO

Honda opened a new $124 million state-of-the-art wind tunnel facility, I was honored to get a sneak peek inside. I was there to film & Here is s full tour of the most advanced Wind Tunnel in the world. Honda is ushering in a new era of development testing capabilities for Honda and Acura products, as well as the company's race vehicles. The new Honda Automotive Laboratories of Ohio (HALO) facility, located at the independent Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC) in Central Ohio, is the world's most advanced wind tunnel, with three separate state-of-the art testing functions — aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, and racing all in one location. Here are some more fun facts Investment $124 million -Facility size 110,000 square feet 1/8-mile wind tunnel circuit 3/4 Open Test Section 3 meters x 5 meters x 15 meters -Test Capabilities Aerodynamic Aeroacoustic Motorsports/Racing -Less than one hour to change to acoustic mode -Variable Nozzle Area 25 square meters = 250 kph (155 mph) 18 square meters = 310 kph (192 mph) -Heat exchanger temperature range 10-50 degrees Celsius (50-122 degrees Fahrenheit) Maintaining constant temperature -Fan Specifications Diameter: 8 meters Blades: 12 hollow carbon fiber fixed-pitch blades Max rpm ≈ 250 rpm at max air speed 310 kph Electric motor: 5-megawatt, 6700 HP -Max Wind Speed 192.63 mph (310 kph) -Acoustic Test System Acoustic environment: 57 dBA at 140 kph (87 mph) Series of acoustic arrays: top, front, sides, and interior 502 external directional microphones and cameras 54 internal microphones (inside cabin for sound source detection) -Turntable Diameter 12 meters 180-degree rotation (Most wind tunnels rotate only + / - 15 degrees) Modular ground plane system Two 40-ton belt modules 5-belt: one belt under each vehicle tire and one larger belt under vehicle center Wide belt: one large belt under vehicle Max speed of 310 kph (193 mph) Acoustic cover Module changeover takes approx. 4 hours Balance (scale): Measures Aerodynamic Load 3-Axis Load Cell in Tower Drag Force Sensitivity = +/- 2.5 Newtons (2.5 N) (about the weight of one standard D battery) Traverse System Diagnostic Robotic Arm Weight: 80 tons (160,000 lbs.) Third-party Customer Workspace